The Austin football team will look to get back on track when it hosts Mankato East this Friday for homecoming at 7 p.m.

The Packers (1-4 overall, 0-4 Big Nine) are coming off four straight losses, but three of those losses were by one score or less.

“You can’t live on potential. You’ve gotta live on productivity,” Austin head coach Tim Hermann said. “This is a key game for us, and we need to play our best this week.”

The Cougars (1-4 overall, 0-4 Big Nine) are also hungry for a win as they have lost four straight as well. East will look to run with junior half back Kenneth King early and often and quarterback Jordan Benesh will control the passing game.

“We saw their back last year, he’s a real good north and south runner. Their quarterback has the potential to be a real good thrower,” Hermann said. “The good news is their speed is on offense and our speed is on defense and I’m hoping we can match that. If we can match their speed, we’ll be in good shape.”

Austin will look to keep it on the ground on offense, where junior running back Jerrad Ryks has run for 670 yards (5.2 per carry) and eight TDs in five games. Ryks has reached the century mark in every game.

“I want to show a finished product and I just want to win and show what we can do, because we’re so close,” Ryks said. “There’s just something holding us back. I know we’ll come out strong.”